US President Donald Trump says he will address the nation on Tuesday night to make his case for building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
On Monday, Trump said on Twitter that the border has caused a humanitarian and national security crisis.
The White House announced that the president will travel to the border on Thursday.
The developments come amid a partial government shutdown. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have failed to reach a consensus over funding for the construction of a border wall, as requested by the president.
On Sunday, Trump threatened to exercise his executive power to declare a national emergency and build a wall regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the Democrats.
He also said the wall could be steel instead of concrete. Analysts say this can be interpreted as a possible compromise on what constitutes a wall.
The president is expected to stress the need to strengthen border security in the prime-time address.
NHK
